Christianity also sprang from Africa. The Bible says so.

'Out of Egypt I called My Son' Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:13-15

Contact:  James Wesly Smith, Apostle Dos Rosas Press, 818-896-5346, stbernice@yahoo.com

MEDIA ADVISORY, Oct. 26 /Christian Newswire/ -- New 456-page reference book details thousands of black saints in the ancient African liturgical church.

Jesus Himself nourished that spiritual soil until 6/7 years of age. A new reference examines the holy results in "Black Saints, Mystics, And Holy Folk (The Ancient African Liturgical Church, Vol. I)".

At least five Apostles/disciples evangelized Africa. Before Antioch, Peter set a church in Babylon, Egypt. Matthew, Nathaniel Bartholomew Levi, Jude Thaddeus Lebbeus (Jesus' cousin), Phillip, and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:27-39), all ministered there. Mark (Gospel of Mark), secretary to Peter and Paul was African.

"We've been with Christianity before day one--since Pharaoh Akhenaton pronounced, 'There is one God,'" says attorney/author James Wesly Smith of his 30-year effort.

"St. Clement finds Ethiopians in the Upper Room at Pentecost. The ancient world used the word "Ethiopians" to mean Blacks, Africans, or dark- skinned.

The Book of Acts puts Queen Candace of Abyssinia's Eunuch Finance Minister among the first Christian converts. Coptic, Ethiopian, and Orthodox Church branches still point to the Holy Family's residence near Heliopolis, Old Cairo," Smith said.

Smith, a St. Brigid's, LA parishioner gleaned a thousand examples of how to live saintly lives from all the early African Church branches: Latin Rites, Coptic, Ethiopian Abyssinian, and Orthodox.

Included are the Desert Fathers and Mothers such as St. Mary of Egypt, martyrs, and bishops Augustine, Cyril, and Athanasius; miracle workers Macarius the Elder and son, and St. Anthony of The Desert.

The former St. Joseph's (Cincinnati) altar server lists theologians Tertullian, Origen, Cyril, and Cyprian. Also found are friends of God such as Catherine of Alexandria, Apa Noub, Amoun, Herais, Thecla; canonized soldiers St. James, the African General, St. Maurice, and Caesar's martyred, Christian Theban Legion.

"Black Catholic Christians can now confidently answer Al Islam's query,' Why do you follow alien faith traditions'? African martyrs nourished the roots of our own ancient branch of the Church," said Smith. Foreshadowing, the author was ironically baptized at Columbia S.C., Martin De Porres Church.

An excellent resource for Black Catholic Month, CCD and RCIA, "Black Saints' Mystics, Holy Folk's" 456 pages illuminates our ancient story.

Apostle Dos Rosas Press slates Black Saints' Volume II, (from 600 A.D. to present) for Advent release. For more information contact: www.booklocker.com/books/3088.html

Book URL: www.angelfire.com/realm/blackcatholics/BlackSaintsMysticsHoly.html

Author's Bio: www.angelfire.com/realm/blackcatholics/JamesWeslySmith.html

ISBN-13 978-1-60145-088-3

ISBN-10 1-60145-088-5